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A good quality shoe if you can get it at the right price.

The Merrell Siren is described as a hiking shoe. While Merrell make many pairs of walking/hiking/running/fashion shoes the Siren is one of their most popular designs, with many different versions available.

I purchased the Siren Ventilator, in grey recently and have to say they are one of the best pairs of walking/everyday shoe that I have purchased. The sole is thick and sturdy, capable of keeping your feet steady over many different uneven surfaces. The depth of the sole is noticable as soon as you put the shoe on as you instantly feel 3 inches taller. Although the sole of the shoe is thick it is also flexible which allows the shoe to bend with your foot as you are walking, keeping it very comfortable indeed.

The shoe itself is made from a combinationof mesh and a fabric upper. The mesh apparently allows your foot to breathe, however, I have not yet worn them on a sunny hot day so cannot comment if that is the case. The fabric is strong and wipe clean, which is essential for a walking shoe.

Merrells can be quite expensive however, I have recently discovered a few on sale. My pair was purchased in the sale for £44 reduced from £80. I think for this price you can't go wrong.

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Merrell walking shoes

Many years ago on a holiday to the Isle of Skye I discovered I had forgotten to pack my walking boots! A trip to the Island outdoor shop was necessary and after trying on several different makes I finally opted for a pair of Merrell walking shoes. Fast forward almost a decade and I can honestly say these were the best pair of shoes I have ever bought. Sadly after walking many miles my shoes had started to show their age! A few months ago I decided it was time to buy a new pair. Having had such a positive experience with Merrell I knew I wanted to stick with the brand.

A trip to my local Milletts revealed a few styles in the Merrell range. I have fairly skinny ankles and so find that high walking boots tend to rub my ankle bone. For this reason I wanted a trainer like walking shoe. I didn't want anything to heavy either .The Merrell Siren ventilator caught my eye and I was soon on my way home with a pair.

Merrell market this shoe as a lightweight summer hiking shoe. The shoes are made of suede with a breathable mesh lining. They have the Merrell vibram sole so give excellent grip. The shoes are air cushioned in the middle for extra comfort. The heel is moulded for support. There are two colours to choose from either beige suede called desert sage or brown coloured suede called pinecone. I choose the beige colour.

My thoughts.***********I have had these shoes for over two months now and love them! They are very comfortable even on very long hikes. I have never experienced any blisters or even had sore feet even on a recent 10 mile walk. The inside of the shoe is very well cushioned so feels like you are really walking on air. Walking in these shoes will literally give you a spring in your step!

The Vibram sole gives excellent grip even on wet ground. Although these shoes do not give good ankle support I find my heels stay in place and that helps to support my ankles. I have never had a twisted ankle wearing these so I guess that's proof enough!

The breathable mesh works well by keeping your feet cool. I don't suffer from sweaty feet but have no reason to think the Merrell promise that the mesh will also take away any moisture from you feet is not true.

On the negative side these shoes are not great to wear when it rains! They are sold as a summer weight walking shoe after all. The mesh on the sides of the shoes lets in water, although the shoes do dry quickly. We tend to do a lot of walking over rough terrain and these shoes are not good for crossing streams! Still on balance I am happy to get my feet damp in exchange for a superbly comfortable shoe!

Another slight negative is that these shoes don't come in half sizes. I usually take a 5 ½ but found the size 5 fitted well. I tend to wear lightweight socks with these to get the full benefit of the cool breathable mesh.

Although these shoes have walked along many muddy tracks they are easy to clean. I tend to let them dry and then give them a quick going over with a suede brush.

I paid about £60 for my pair of shoes in Milletts. I have checked the price on line and see Milletts have these on offer for £54.99 although you will have to pay postage. I recommend you try a pair on before buying and ensure you take the socks you like to walk in with you!

I can't recommend these shoes highly enough!

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The best shoes I have ever bought!

A last minute summer holiday in beautiful Pembrokeshire two years ago had me frantically searching for a pair of comfortable walking shoes. My old boots were rubbing my heels and, not being a huge fan of clunky walking boots anyway I decided that some light shoes would be enough. Of the very little choice in my small town I finally plumped for these in Millets. I think they were about £65 which seemed pricey but they seemed comfortable, Merrell was a name I knew and I have only ever heard good things about them so I decided to risk it. Two years later I think that they were worth every penny!

Faced, a week later, with an eight mile coast walk in the hot sun in new shoes, worn only a couple of times - I feared blisters by the end of the day! From that very first walk I was very impressed, the shoes were comfortable from the start and only rubbed (a very little) in the last hour or so of the day. From then till now I have worn them on summer walks in many, many times and have never had any problems at all. Supremely comfortable, light and airy, they are perfect for avoiding nasty sweaty feet and blisters!

They are made from breathable fabric with suede (I usually avoid leather wherever possible but will occasionally buy it for good quality walking shoes that I know will last, not great for a vegetarian I know but there are limited alternatives and several pairs of cheap synthetic shoes will only wear out and go on to clutter up the planet! I have a tendancy to overthink these things!) which means that they are not at all waterproof and therefore totally unsuitable for winter/rain walking but they do dry out very quiclkly and on the few occasions where I have got my feet wet they are not really uncomfortable to wear. I would also avoid the beach where possible because of the suede but mud and wet seems to do them no harm at all. I am notoriously bad at remembering (or bothering) to clean shoes - another reason that I am prepared to pay more for quality and sturdiness! - and as I type they sit beside me caked with mud!

Perfect for summer walks, for holidays (I packed just these and a pair of flip flops for a recent break in Tenerife and they were perfect for the plane and the walking we did there) and they look better with jeans than trainers! I would highly recommend them as an alternative to heavy walking boots for general use and will certainly buy Merrell shoes again. They have some very nice sandals and summer is coming again...

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Product Details

This ventilated version of the Siren Sport from Merrell is made to let your feet breathe. It has a mesh and synthetic upper with a full length lacing system, Qform technology to cushion and align your feet naturally and a grippy Vibram sole unit What began in the mountains of Utah, now roams the world. For more than 20 years, Merrell has been providing outdoor enthusiasts with quality performance footwear. As the needs of the outdoor enthusiast changed, so too has Merrell's approach to addressing those needs. Over time, the concept of outdoor has broadened to include all types of activities and environments both natural and urban. Merrell is driven to keep pace with this evolution of The New Outdoor and continues to evolve